barbosa2007 | MORE Oct 2009 - The Scenery as Seen by Arashi

Aiba Masaki is a person who “lives in the now.” Without worrying about what’s happening around him, he fully drinks in the moment and expresses his feelings of gratitude with all his strength. In any case, the important thing is to enjoy life with a smile. In fact, that scintillating smile of his has become his greatest message.

It’s already predetermined that you shed tears at every concert opening, right, Aiba-san?

I just get so moved every time the moment we get on the stage. I always go, “No no no, this isn’t the time or place to be moved!” It feels like my thoughts always run in that direction whilst the concert starts.

What’s on your mind when you first step onto the stage?

I tend to take on the performance with the feeling of, “Alright, let’s do it!” When we appear on the stage, suddenly the view of thousands of audience members just floods your eyes and it’s totally different from rehearsals. At that point, the feeling of gratitude just wells up within me.

Does that feeling of being moved remain even as the number of performances increase and the size of the stage becomes bigger?

Yup, it’s a refreshing feeling each and every time.

What does a concert mean to you?

I’ve experienced it many times, if you include my days as a Junior. I kind of treat it as my starting point. It’s not a televised broadcast, and it’s limited to that particular theatre. However, it’s precisely because of that fact that I feel so alive just by experiencing the emotions during that performance. For example, in a variety program or in a drama, you can place yourself in the shoes of the audience and think about what you’re gonna say and stuff. However, in a concert you just tend to go with your emotions, so you won’t be able to look at yourself from the audience’s perspective. Because of that, even when I watch the concert DVDs afterwards, I keep thinking stuff like, “Wow, Arashi looks like they’re having fun!” (laughs)

Chuckles. Aiba-san, it seems like your smile as you’re putting in your heart and soul in whatever you do has become your trademark.

I was always smiling ever since I was an elementary school student. I would be smiling in every single photo you can find. I think there are people who look at certain situations and say, there’s not a situation you should be smiling at and take a stoic attitude towards it. However, when I’m done and out and even when it feels impossible, I still think that if you face life with a smile, somehow something good will happen. Of course, there are times when you definitely shouldn’t be laughing, but I still want to smile despite it.

Nino talks about Aiba’s 10 years

Firstly, Aiba-kun has really grown! Why, during our Junior days I was taller than he was! He’s grown bigger, that boy. (laughs) In addition to that, recently he’s been able to properly say when he’s feeling tired or feeling sleepy. Previously, he used to keep it all within himself and it ends up with him catching a high fever or damaging his health. Well, he probably only has a hundredth of the wilfulness which I have, but for him to even reach that stage can be considered growth, I guess.